The National Association of Athletic Ticket Sales and Operations (NAATSO) and Return on Inclusion (ROI) are excited to announce a partnership aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the athletics ticket sales and operations industry. ROI is a sport-specific diversity and inclusion education platform dedicated to developing inclusive leaders and fostering a culture of belonging across social and cultural differences.
"The NAATSO Board of Directors and Executive Committee are thrilled to launch this program and partnership with ROI," said NAATSO President Matt Carson, senior associate AD for revenue generation & ticket strategy at the University of North Texas (UNT). "Developing inclusive mindsets in our rising ticketing industry leaders will have significant positive impacts for ticket offices and athletics departments across the country."
The partnership between NAATSO and ROI marks a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable industry. Through this partnership, both organizations aim to promote a more diverse and inclusive workplace and provide individuals with the tools and resources necessary to support such an environment.
"Providing access to sport-specific education is critical to developing inclusive leaders in college athletics," said Nevin Caple, ROI founder and CEO. "I commend the NAATSO Board as one of the first NACDA Affiliate Associations to provide members with a game plan to navigate complex situations and build social and cultural competence."
"Nevin Caple and Return on Inclusion have made a tremendous impact on the NACDA Family since we announced our overarching partnership in 2021," said NACDA Chief Executive Officer Pat Manak. "NAATSO's new ROI partnership provides a special opportunity to develop a greater atmosphere of inclusion and sense of belonging specific to the ticket sales and operations silo of college athletics."
NAATSO values DEI with a mission to promote, educate, support, and develop the growth of minorities in athletics ticket sales and ticket operations. With its first initiative, NAATSO and ROI are leading its first cohort starting this spring. The cohort-based leadership development experience is designed to foster and grow inclusive practices and policies and develop a skill set to lead inclusively across social and cultural differences.
The program will accept 15 participants for Year 1, with priority given to Board members, mentors and mentees, stipend recipients, and D&I Committee members. ROI modules will be completed individually by each participant on their own schedule, and the group will come together to meet virtually once a month for discussion from April through September.
If you are a NAATSO member interested in participating, please CLICK HERE to register. Applicants should be aware of the time commitment outlined above and willing to participate accordingly if selected for the cohort. The deadline to apply for the program is Wednesday, March 15. Selected individuals will be notified by Wednesday, March 22.
The NAATSO ROI cohort program will offer training and development opportunities designed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the athletics ticket sales and operations industry. The curriculum will include topics such as unconscious bias training, cross-cultural communication, diversity and inclusion strategies, and other related topics. With continued support and participation, the partnership can help create a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all.
Any questions may be directed to NAATSO Association Manager Nick Strah.
About ROI: Return On Inclusion™ (ROI) is a sport-specific diversity and inclusion education platform dedicated to developing inclusive leaders and fostering a culture of belonging across social and cultural differences. Our self-paced modules standardize learning methods, deepening our commitment to help every coach and athletic administrator develop the skills and competencies necessary to support student-athletes and achieve inclusive excellence in programs, policies and practices.
About NAATSO: NAATSO is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of athletics ticketing administrators. For more information about NAATSO, please visit www.naatso.com. NAATSO is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 58th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
